infantilize

especially British, in·fan·til·ise

[in-fuhn-tl-ahyz, -tahy-lahyz, in-fan-tl-ahyz]

verb (used with object)

infantilized, infantilizing 

1. to keep in or reduce to an infantile state.

2. to treat or regard as infantile or immature.

Other Word Forms

• infantilization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of infantilize¹

1940–45; infantile + -ize, or by back formation from infantilization

Example Sentences

The crucial insight of today’s Roberts court might be put this way: Imperious judicial decisions distort and infantilize the political sphere.

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Burnett never insists that they’re the sane ones, nor does he infantilize Fish and Poinsettia’s afflictions.

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When was the last time you heard a major politician in America infantilize women like this?

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While it’s easy to infantilize these furry, arboreal critters — a key reason why audiences’ hearts have been moved by them for decades — their cuteness should never eclipse their importance, as the Ewok tribe holds a pivotal role in the destruction of the Death Star.

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We are seeing adult women who aggressively reject society's efforts to infantilize them.

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